§ 78-19 DECATUR CODE
placed or suspended closer than ten feet to
any property line or street right-of-way line.
oriented, with a total sign area not to ex­
ceed 250 square feet. If a window sign, the
area of such sign shall not exceed one-tenth
of the total window surface area of the win­
dow in which it is located.
(i) Nursery schools, day care centers, nursing
homes, sanitariums, homes for the elderly. Signs
for nursery schools, day care centers, nursing
homes, sanitariums, homes for the elderly shall
be limited to one permanent freestanding sign not
exceeding 12 square feet in area located not closer
than ten feet to any property line.
(j) Multiple-tenant office buildings. In addition
to signs permitted in subsection (k) of this section
for storefront or street-facing businesses, signs for
multiple tenant office buildings shall be limited to
a lobby directory except that a multistory office
building in excess of 50,000 square feet may have
one permanent business identification freestand­
ing sign or one permanent business identification
wall sign not exceeding two square feet of sign
area per 5,000 square feet of building space to
identify an office-type business or businesses which
are located in the building_
(k) Storefront or street-facing business. Signs for
a storefront or street-facing business shall be lim­
ited to the following:
(1) One permanent primary business identifi­
cation sign. The primary business identifi­
cation sign may be a wall sign, a freestand­
ing sign, a window sign, or awning or canopy
sign. Such signs are not required to face
the street, but shall be on a building side
which is visible from the street. If a wall, a
freestanding or awning or canopy sign, such
sign shall not exceed one square foot of sign
area for each linear foot of street frontage
of the business, the total sign area not to
exceed 500 square feet. If a window sign,
such sign shall not exceed one-tenth of the
total window surface of the window in which
it is located.
(2) One permanent secondary business identi­
fication sign oriented to each street abut­
ting the business. The secondary business
identification sign may be a wall sign, a
window sign or an awning or canopy sign.
If a wall, an awning or canopy sign, such
sign shall not exceed one square foot of sign
area for each linear foot of street frontage
of the business for the street to which it is
(3) Temporary signs provided that they are lim­
ited to:
a.
Window signs, provided the area cov­
ered by such signs does not exceed one­
sixth of window surface area of the win­
dow in which it is located and there are
no more than three temporary signs per
160 square feet of window surface area;
or
b.
Banners not exceeding 150 square feet
in area_ Banners may be used for a pe­
riod not to exceed 30 days in each cal­
endar year.
(I) Vehicular businesses. Signs for vehicular busi­
nesses shall be limited to signs permitted for store­
front or street-facing businesses, as regulated by
subsection (k) of this section, and one business
identification pole sign, the area of which shall
not exceed one square foot of sign area for each
linear foot of street frontage of the business, the
total sign area not to exceed 175 square feet.
(m) Shopping centers. In addition to signs per­
mitted for individual businesses located in a shop­
ping center, as may be regulated by subsections
(k) and (I) of this section, a shopping center may
have one permanent pole sign or one permanent
freestanding sign of not more than three square
feet of sign area per each 1,000 square feet of
building space, the total sign area not to exceed
500 square feet, to identify the shopping center
and businesses which are located in the center.
(n) Political signs. Political signs are permitted
in all zoning districts, but they shall be limited
only to developed properties. These signs are per­
mitted for a period of not more than six weeks
before a duly authorized election date. Political
signs shall be removed within one week following
the authorized general election date or within one
week of the candidate's or issue's election or de­
feat, whichever comes first. Primary and general
election dates shall be established by applicable
federal, state or local law. Political signs shall not
CD78:12 SIGNS exceed eight square feet in area and shall not ex­
ceed two signs per lot. Political signs shall not be
located closer than 17 feet to the edge of a public
road surface. However, no political sign shall be
pennitted in a public right-of-way. Political signs
displayed in nonresidential or multiple-family zon­
ing districts may only be placed in the window
area of the primary structure.
Service stations. Signs for service stations
shall be limited to the following:
(0)
(1) One permanent business identification pole
sign with price panel, the maximum area of
which shall be determined by the regula­
tions for vehicular businesses in subsection
(l) of this section.
(2) One permanent principal business identifi­
cation wall sign mounted flat on the build­
ing for each street facing, the maximum area
of which shall be detennined by the regu­
lations for storefront or street-facing busi­
nesses in subsection (k) of this section.
(3) One temporary A-frame or ground sign for
display purposes not exceeding six feet in
height and four feet in width .
(4) Temporary signs shall be pennitted, pro­
vided that they are limited to window signs,
and the total window surface area covered
by such signs does not exceed one-fourth of
the window surface area of the window in
which they are located.
(5) Pennants, banners and other similar de­
vices shall be permitted only for grand open­
ings . The display time shall not exceed ten
days total time.
(6) Prohibited signs and sign devices at service
stations. The following signs and sign de­
vices are prohibited: temporary promotional
signs other than window signs, tire and oil
displays placed away from the building, signs
of wood or other combustible materials, signs
attached to pumps and light poles other than
directional signs, roof signs, vehicles used
as signs, lightbulb lines and searchlights.
(p) Professional offices. Signs for a professional
office shall be limited to a nonilluminated perma­
nent freestanding business identification sign not
§ 78-19
exceeding 12 feet in area. Such sign may only an­
nounce the finn name and the service or product
represented.
(q) Construction signs. During construction on
or development of property, construction signs shall
be permitted as follows:
(1) Residential and professional office zoning
districts. One construction sign not exceed­
ing 24 square feet in area.
(2) Commercial zoning districts. One construc­
tion sign not exceeding 100 square feet in
area.
(r) Weekend directional signs. Weekend direc­
tional signs are permitted in all zoning districts
and shall be limited to the following:
(1) Weekend directional signs shall convey di ­
rections to a specific place or event.
(2) Weekend directional signs shall be allowed
on weekends from 5:00 p.m. on Fridays to
11:59 p.m. on Sundays.
(3) Each weekend directional sign shall be leg­
ibly marked with the name of the owner
who shall be responsible for removing signs
by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. If a party other
than the owner is to be responsible for the
removal of the sign, then the responsible
party's name may be substituted. This in­
formation must be written in weatherproof
ink or paint upon at least one face of the
weekend directional sign and in letters of
at least one-half inch in height. Each owner
or responsible party shall give notice in the
form of a letter to the development depart­
ment providing the name, address and tele­
phone number of the sign owner or respon­
sible party.
(4) Weekend directional signs shall not exceed
four square feet of sign area and three feet
in height and shall be allowed to have one
face on each side of the sign. Weekend di­
rectional signs shall be mounted on an in­
dependent post or pole and shall not be af­
fixed in any manner to any tree, utility pole,
bridge, curb, bench, or any other public fa­
cility or fixture, nor to any other sign or
sign structure. Weekend directional signs
CD78:13